Page 35 of CEO's Baby Scandal
“So you haven’t even told him?” Her eyebrows rose.
“No. He doesn’t know. I don’t know how to tell him. How did you tell Dad you were pregnant with Evelyn?”
Her lips pursed, deepening her scowl. “Well, first of all, I was married, so it was a happy thing.”
I rolled my eyes. “I should have never told you.”
“Look, if you haven’t said anything yet, that’s better. It means you can take care of this and he’ll never be the wiser.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, my chest tightening.
“I mean, we’ll go to the women’s clinic in the morning. You have options. I think ending this now while it’s very early is the best. Your whole life will be completely ruined if you keep this baby. And God forbid your father finds out.” She pressed her hands to her face and sighed deeply, then dropped them.
“There is no way I’m aborting my baby, Mom.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying. It’s not even a baby yet. Okay? Just think of it like a wart you need to cut off.” Mom stood, and I wanted to scream at her. “We’ll go first thing in the morning. You’ll see, Emily, that this is the best thing for you. I can’t imagine how hard your life would be if you kept it. You’ll see.”
“Uh…” My brain felt like it was going to explode. Mom walked out as calmly as she walked in, and my head was spinning. How could she compare my baby to a wart that needed to be removed? That wasn’t at all the reaction I had expected.
I thought she’d be angry, shout at me. Maybe call my father into the room and attempt to punish me like I was a naughty child with lectures and grounding. It almost felt like she expected this to happen and she’d thought out her reaction and a plan moving forward for just such an event. And it infuriated me.
I finished the soup and set the tray outside my door and locked it. Morning and the chance to bicker with her about this would both come soon enough. I needed sleep.
24
DANIEL
As I pushed open the door to the restaurant, I was hit with a wave of warm air and the delicious scent of cooking food. The interior was dimly lit, with soft yellow lights casting a warm glow over the space. The walls were painted a soft cream color, and various framed paintings and photographs hung on them, giving the space a cozy, inviting feel.
The sound of jazz music played softly in the background, and I could hear the chatter of customers seated at the tables. I approached the hostess stand and the petite woman standing there smiled at me.
"Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to our restaurant. How may I assist you?" she asked.
"Hi there, I'm meeting my father for lunch today. Do you have a table available?" I replied.
"Of course, sir. We have a few tables available. Would you like to be seated by the window or in the main dining area?" she asked.
"The window would be nice, please," I said.
"Alright, please follow me," she said as she led me to a table by the large windows, which let in a flood of natural light and offered a pleasant view of the outside.
I sat and waited for my father, frustrated and overwhelmed. After everything that had happened, I couldn't shake the feeling that Emily had been using me all along. It seemed like she had weaseled her way into my life to mess it up and take my money. I had tried to ignore these thoughts for months, but they had only grown stronger with time. I should have listened to Michael and my parents from the beginning.
As I waited for my father, I fiddled with my fork, trying to calm my nerves. I couldn't help but wonder what he would say when I told him what Emily’s sister had said. I wasn’t ready for the “I told you so” lecture. It was difficult for me to eat my words, but after having fought for her so passionately because I believed her, trusted her, this entire conversation was going to be torture.
Dad walked in, standing tall with squared shoulders. The suit he wore told me he had come from work, not the golf course or home. I watched him address the hostess, and she led him in my direction. The closer he got, the more my gut tightened. He had warned me, and I’d ignored his wisdom in favor of following my heart, and that had been a huge mistake.
“Daniel,” he said, sitting. “Thank you.” He nodded at the hostess, and she walked away. “How are things?” he asked, taking his napkin and draping it over his knee. I mirrored his movements, placing the black cloth napkin across my lap.
“Things have been better.” I wasn’t sure how to admit to him how wrong I’d been or that I was now facing a lawsuit.
“Is that right?” he asked. It was like he already knew and he was just toying with me. That thought was ridiculous. There was no way he knew anything yet, but he always had a sixth sense about things. Besides the fact that he had actually been right about Emily, so he was probably waiting for me to come crawling to him with my tail between my legs admitting my defeat. “Anything you want to talk about in particular?”
The waitress walked up to us, interrupting, much to my temporary relief.
“How are the two of you today?” she asked, pen ready to take our order.
“Fine thank you,” I told her, avoiding my father’s languid gaze.